BETH-ZUR (Βηθσούρ, Βηθσούρα : Eth. Βηθσουραῖς, Βηθσουρίτης), a city of the tribe of Judah, and one of those fortified by Rehoboam. ( Joshua, 15.58; 2 Chron. 11.7.) In the books of Maccabees and in Josephus there is frequent mention of one, or perhaps two cities of this name, in the southof Judaea (1 Mace.14.13), and therefore some-times reckoned to Idumaea (1 Macc. 4.29, but in verse 61, κατὰ πρόσωπον τῆς Ἰδουμαίας, compare 2 Macc. 13.19.) It is described as the most strongly fortified place of Judaea. ( Ant. 13.5.7.) In the time of Judas Maccabaeus it stood a long siege from Antiochus Eupator, but was at length forced to capitulate (12.8.4, 5), and was held by the renegade Jews after other fortresses had been evacuated by their Syrian garrisons (13.2.1), but at length surrendered to Simon (5.7). Josephus places it 70 stadia distant from Beth-Zachariah. (12.8.4.) Eusebius and St. Jerome speak of Βεθσούρ, or Βηθσορών, Bethsur, or Bethsoron, on the road from Aelia to Hebron, twenty miles from the former, and therefore only two from the latter.
[G.W]